Chelsea boss Conte said: “This game must give us a lot of confidence to trust that, in the second leg, qualification is open. It won't be easy, we must be realistic because we are talking about Barcelona, and they showed they are a fantastic, strong team tonight.

"But we showed, too, that if we are ready to work very hard together defensively, but at the same time you continue to have the right feeling when you win the ball and are with the ball to create the chances to score, we can try to do something incredible at the Nou Camp.

"We were very close to playing the perfect game. I think we paid dearly for one mistake."

“Christensen's performance was great, incredible,” said Conte. “We are talking about a player who is only 21, 22 years old. It's great that he's able to play this game with this maturity and personality.

“Christensen for me was one of the best players tonight. It's very difficult to tell one or another, but Christensen played a top game and I'm very pleased with his performance.”

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

Andreas Christensen cost Chelsea dear (Image: REUTERS)

Messi levels the scores (Image: CameraSport)

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas also maintained that they must go all-out attack in the Non Camp as it would be “suicide” to try and play defensively.

Fabregas said: "It is still open though and we have showed that we can compete and we will need another excellent performance at the Nou Camp to go through.

"You have to have a lot of personality to play against this team who has 70% of the ball. We have to go there to attack and score because 90 minutes defending at the Nou Camp is an eternity, it is a suicide mission. We have to play our game.”

Chelsea's players react (Image: REUTERS)

Barcelona celebrate (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Barcelona veteran Andres Iniesta added: “We know it will be difficult because they are playing for their season.

"They are one of the best teams in Europe, they have great players and this is the Champions League. In this competition any move or mistake can cost you a lot.”